Tennis legend Boris Becker discharged from bankruptcy court in London
German tennis legend Boris Becker has been discharged from bankruptcy court in London after a judge found that he had made significant efforts to repay his creditors tens of millions of pounds. Despite falling short of repaying nearly 50 million pounds ($62.5 million) he owed, Chief Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Nicholas Briggs commended Becker for his cooperation and efforts.
Becker, 56, was deported to Germany two years ago after serving time in a London prison for illicitly transferring money and hiding assets following his bankruptcy declaration in 2017. He was convicted on multiple charges under the Insolvency Act but acquitted of others, including failing to hand over trophies and his Olympic gold medal to bankruptcy trustees.
The former world No. 1 player, who won multiple Grand Slam titles, attributed his financial troubles to laziness and bad advice. His lawyer stated that a settlement had been reached with the trustees, including a substantial sum that Becker must pay. Despite still owing a significant amount, Becker’s lawyer emphasized that he had done all he could to resolve the situation.
Becker’s rise to stardom in the tennis world in the 1980s was followed by a successful career as a coach, commentator, investor, and celebrity poker player after his retirement in 1999. Despite his legal troubles, Becker remains a prominent figure in the sports world.